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Film
New Line Productions
A Review by By Mary Hoffman
[Armadillo 4.1 Spring 2004]
So many trees have already died for the coverage of the Lord of the Rings film that the dendrophilic Tolkien must be rotating a little underground, even if his shade is pleased with the result. John Ezard, who knew the late Professor in the 60s, thinks he wouldnt have been altogether happy (øSo, would Tolkien have liked the film?Ó Guardian 14.12.01)
Why not? Just because authors never are? Everyone else seems to love it, including both the BAFTA committee and their public voters, who made it best film, not to mention making Peter Jackson Best Director and giving it numerous other awards. We are waiting to see whether the Academy Awards committee feels the same about the film, its direction and the acting of Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf.
Ezard says Tolkien would have hated the high decibel soundtrack and the mysterious equation of the Shire with Ireland. I must admit I was puzzled by that myself but took it to be part of the general mishmash of accents. Aragorn is American, as is his girlfriend Arwen, Merry the hobbit is Irish while his friend Pippin is Scottish and Gimli the dwarf is Welsh ¨ mysteriously Celeborn the elf-king also seems to come from the Principality.
I saw the film twice, re-read the three books and listened to some of the radio adaptation by Brian Sibley and Michael Bakewell which I first heard over twenty years ago. And Ive come to the conclusion that the film is as good as one is likely to get.
Yes, the annoying bits get more annoying on a second viewing ¨ Gandalf and Frodos inexplicable laughter at what must surely be the weakest joke in Middle Earth, tiresome japes by Merry and Pippin, far too many close-ups of the ring in various grubby palms, Lorien looking like an Ewok village painted by Burne-Jones, a slimy blue creature arising out of the earth at Orthanc to lead the Uruk-hai when we are told they are the result of inter-breeding orcs and goblins, etc. etc.
The bigger beefs come from flaws in the original. Arwen, the elf princess, is such a cipher that Peter Jackson felt he must build the role up, so he gives Liv Tyler the role played by another (male) elf in the book and has her rescue Frodo from the pursuing Dark Riders. This must have given him a real problem in making the second and third films where the books demand a real warrior-maiden, Eowyn. She is one of only two strong female characters in the trilogy, the other being Galadriel the Elf Queen, played in the film by Cate Blanchett, got up like the Lady of Shalott.
Blanchett doesnt have to act, just intone and let the special effects make her look frightening ¨ which they do. But you cant get round the fact that women simply arent central to Tolkiens vision; the quest to destroy the Ring of Power is, like the quest for the Holy Grail, essentially a boys game. Take the aforementioned origin of the Uruk-hai. Where are the female orcs or goblins who would make such a mixture possible?
No, Tolkien doesnt do sex and he doesnt do religion and, some would say, he doesnt do much by way of humour. But he does do grand and splendid and mysterious and terrifying. And so does Peter Jackson. There are scenes in this film so stunning that they make you jump in your seat at first viewing.
The screaming Dark Riders really are a nightmare on horseback, matched perfectly by the white horses in the flash flood that Arwen unleashes on them. The battle between the two wizards, Gandalf and Saruman, is superb, even if it is only alluded to in the book. Legolas really does move like an elf and very convincingly shoots two arrows at a time.
But the high spot is the journey through Moria, with orcs swarming down its pillared halls and drums throbbing in its cavernous depths. The crossing of the crumbling narrow bridge with Gandalf confronting the Balrog, exceeds even the highest expectations.
And some of the additions in the script work very well. øNobody tosses a dwarf!Ó gets a laugh and øLets hunt some orc!Ó, though hardly Tolkienesque, captures the right mood. Even Sean Bean makes Boromirs new dying words to Aragorn - øMy brother, my captain, my kingÓ - moving.
Though Frodos anguished øNoooh!Ó when Gandalf falls from the bridge cannot help but recall Luke Skywalker and the young Obiwan Kenobi when they lose their Jedi Masters, though Frodo himself has the thickest neck and the longest eyelashes in the business (he was supposed to be fifty when he set out on this quest you know), McKellen was born to play Gandalf and Ian Holm is a completely convincing Bilbo.
Viggo Mortenson is not quite ømyÓ Aragorn but he is a thousand times closer than the risibly miscast late Robert Stephens in the radio production and there are signs that he will grow into the part. And New Zealand looks magnificent throughout. I cant want for the next two Christmases.
Read Mary Hoffman's Film Reviews of The Two Towers and The Return of the King
I did some research with Harper Collins on behalf of Armadillo readers, to discover in what forms you can currently get your Tolkien fix. The results were a bit like those of yodelling in an avalanche danger zone. øWe have over a hundred Tolkien ISBNs listed,Ó said my contact. Ive picked out some of the more affordable items. You can pay £100 for a luxury edtion of LOTR but that is currently reprinting as is the hardback bind-up with Alan Lees illustrations (£45). You can get separate paperbacks of the three books with Lees pictures for £14.99 each or a single volume paperback bind-up without them also for £14.99 (0-261-10325-3). If you want the film tie-in edition, ask for ISBN 0-00-712-381-7.
Is that clear? All of the above are on the adult list. The childrens versions are a very handsome 7-volume paperback boxed set øwith images from the filmÓ at £24.99 (0-00-712401-5. In case youre wondering, the seventh volume has the notes and appendices and the books of the trilogy get two volumes each. If you prefer covers unrelated to the film there are three Collins Modern Classics editions of the separate parts at £6.99 each in paperback.
If you want help with knowing your elves from your Bilbo, the following film guides will help:
The Fellowship of the Ring Insiders Guide by Brian Sibley
Collins Childrens Books pb. £4.99 ISBN 0-00-713194-1
Lots of nerdy information about hobbit feet, orc armour and long make-up jobs and not a whit the less interesting for that.
The Fellowship of the Ring Photo Guide by Alison Sage
Collins Childrens Books pb £6.99 ISBN 0-00-713272-7
This is really just a collection of pin-up shots from the film.
The Lord of the Rings Official Movie Guide by Brian Sibley Harper Collins Entertainment paperback £10.99
A sort of conflation of the two above with extra information about the books, Peter Jackson and the shooting.
A Google search produced øabout 860,000Ó results! Here are a few interesting ones:
www.tolkien.co.uk - the official Collins website.
www.thetolkiensociety.com - essential, with nice graphics, runes etc.
www.lordoftherings.net ¨ the official LoTR film website, with exclusive interviews etc.
www.mckellen.com - Sir Ian McKellens homepage.
For funny, risqu¹ spoof diaries of some of the members of the fellowship, see:
Frodo www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml/itemid=19536228
Sam www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml/itemid=19663112
Legolas www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml/itemid=19297497
Gandalf www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml/itemid=19967051
Aragorn www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml/itemid=18849688
Boromir www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml/itemid=19399211
Pippin www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml/itemid=20276897